Portugal say Meireles gesture was tactical

Salvador: Portugal have denied midfielder Raul Meireles was making an insulting gesture toward the referee after teammate Pepe was sent off against Germany on Monday, saying he was simply passing on tactical instructions from coach Paulo Bento.

Photographs posted on Twitter showed Meireles gesturing with his fingers behind Serbian referee Milorad Mazic’s back during the first half of Germany’s 4-0 Group G win.

“The Portuguese football federation (FPF) reiterates that there was no gesture directed to the match referee and regrets the speculation, which would seriously damage the interests of the player and the national team,” they said in a statement.

“The FPF clarifies that the gesture, which has been misinterpreted, was directed at teammate Bruno Alves and merely indicated instructions from coach Paulo Bento.

“Raul Meireles was just explaining that he would drop back to the position of central defender, playing on the right of the defence.”

The incident occurred after Portugal defender Pepe was shown the red card in the first half of Monday’s game.

Pepe leant into Germany striker Thomas Mueller with his head, making contact and applying pressure in a needless altercation that could bring him a stiff punishment.